'f  V  J.C^^^^:^"'r'l7  /V--:''" 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


BY 

WILLIAM  WARNER  BISHOP 


PREPRINT  OP 

MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

CHAPTER  II 


American  lihratp  ^gfiotiatton  |3ttbU«l)inff  ^oarti 

78  E.  WASHINGTON  ST.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 
1911 


A.  L.  A.  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

Chap.      I.  "American  Library  History,"  by  C.  K.  Bolton. 

11.  "The  Library  of  Congress,"  by  W.  W.  Bishop. 

IV.  "The  College  and  University  Library,"  by  J.  I. 
Wyer,  Jr. 

XVII.  "Order   and   Accession   Department,"   by   F.    F. 
Hopper. 

XXII.  "Reference  Department,"  by  E.  C.  Richardson. 

XXVI.  "Bookbinding,"  by  A.  L.  Bailey. 

The  above  chapters  are  each  printed  in  a  separate  pamphlet. 
Price  lo  cents  each. 

Projected  chapters  now  in  preparation  are  as  follows: 
"Loan  Department";  "Branches  and  Other  Distributing 
Agencies";  "Pamphlets,  Clippings,  Maps,  Music";  "Book 
Selection";  "Classification";  "Commissions,  State  Aid  and 
State  Agencies";  "Work  with  the  Blind";  "Library  Service"; 
"State  Libraries";  "Fixtures,  Furniture,  Fittings  and  Sup- 
plies"; "Free  Public  Libraries";  "Catalog";  "Shelf  Depart- 
ment"; "Museums,  Art  Galleries,  Lectures";  "Public  Docu- 
ments " ;  "  Library  Training  " ;  ^ "  Special  Libraries  " ;  "  Adminis- 
tration"; "Bibliography";,  \^Piii}ifc.\  Library  and  Public 
Schools  " ;  "  Librp^ry  : Wctfk .  :^ith .  Children." ;  "  Legislation  " ; 
"Buildings."      •*'-••  ^y^^>^  *::..;  :\  ..  ' 


II 

LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 

WILLIAM  WARNER  BISHOP 
Superintendent  of  the  Reading  Room 

HISTORY^ 

The  Library  of  Congress  was  established  by  virtue  of  an 
Act  of  Congress,  approved  April  24,  1800,  appropriating  $5,000 
for  the  purchase  of  books  and  for  fitting  up  a  suitable  apart- 
ment in  the  Capitol  to  contain  them.  In  1802  a  Joint  Com- 
mittee of  both  Houses  on  the  Library  was  created;  under  direc- 
tion of  this  committee  the  Library  continued  for  many  years, 
but  with  the  abandonment  of  joint  committees  the  control 
passed  more  and  more  to  the  librarian.  Since  1897  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Library  has  been  entirely  in  his  hands  as  a  matter  of 
law. 

In  1 8 14  the  Library,  then  numbering  slightly  over  3;ooo 
volumes,  was  destroyed  when  the  Capitol  was  burned  by  the 
British  troops.  Very  shortly  thereafter  the  library  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  amounting  to  about  7,000  volumes,  was  purchased 
as  a  nucleus  of  a  new  collection.  A  catalog  of  this  library,  made 
by  Jefferson  himself,  was  pubhshed  in  181 5.  The  system  of 
classification  used  by  him  was  followed  in  the  arrangement  of 
the  books  and  in  various  pubhshed  catalogs  until  1864.  The 
annual  increase  was  steady  but  small  (about  1,300  volumes) 
until  a  second  disastrous  fire  in  1851  left  but  20,000  volumes 
out  of  the  55,000  to  which  the  collection  had  grown.  Appropri- 
ations were  made  at  once  to  restore  the  Library's  quarters  in 

^Cf.  Johnston,  Wm.  Dawson.  History  of  the  Library  of  Congress, 
vol.  I,  1800-1864.     Washington,  Gov.  print,  office,  1904. 

U.S.  Library  of  Congress.  Report  of  the  Librarian  for  1901.  Wash- 
ington, Gov.  print,  office,  1901;  pp.  183-97;  cf.  also  the  annual  reports 
from  1897  to  date. 


251V0I 


2    /:% : :/;  ;4^<?^1LJ)F.LI3RARY  ECONOMY 

the  Capitol  and  to  replace  at  least  in  part  the  books  destroyed. 
In  1865  these  quarters  were  much  enlarged  and  in  1867  the 
purchase  for  $100,000  of  the  Peter  Force  Collection  of  i\mericana 
of  some  60,000  articles  increased  materially  the  size  of  the  Li- 
brary, which  had  reached  nearly  100,000  volumes  in  the  previous 
year.  In  1867  also  the  Library  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
of  some  40,000  volumes,  consisting  largely  of  transactions  of 
learned  societies,  was  deposited  with  the  Library  of  Congress, 
which  has  continued  to  act  as  the  custodian  for  the  Smithsonian 
Institution. 

From  1846  to  1859  the  copyright  law  required  one  copy  of  a 
copyrighted  book  to  be  deposited  in  the  Library.  The  same 
provision  was  in  force  from  1865  to  1870.  The  act  of  July  8, 
1870,  placed  the  registration  of  copyrights  under  the  care  of 
the  Librarian  of  Congress,  and  required  the  deposit  of  two 
copies  of  each  article  copyrighted.  This  pro\'ision  remains  in 
force,  under  the  act  of  March  4,  1909. 

With  the  administration  of  Dr.  A.  R.  Spofford,  appointed 
Librarian  in  1864,  the  Library  entered  on  a  period  of  rapid 
growth.  In  addition  to  the  Force  Collection  many  smaller 
collections  were  acquired,  large  numbers  of  newspapers  were 
secured  and  bound,  and  the  manuscripts  greatly  increased  by 
the  purchase  of  the  Rochambeau  and  other  papers.  The 
operation  of  the  copyright  law  and  the  agreement  with  the 
Smithsonian  Institution  permitted  the  somewhat  meager  appro- 
priations for  the  increase  of  the  Library  to  be  used  to  great 
advantage  in  the  auction  market  and  in  buying  foreign  books. 
When  Dr.  Spofford  retired  from  the  active  direction  of  the 
Library  in  1897  it  had  grown  to  about  a  miUion  volumes  and 
pamphlets.  The  crowding  of  this  collection  in  the  extremely 
inadequate  space  at  the  Capitol  had  long  since  shown  the 
imperative  need  of  a  separate  building  for  the  Library. 

As  early  as  1873  Congress  began  to  consider  the  matter  of 
new  quarters.     In  1886,  after  thirteen  years  of  discussion,  the 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  3 

construction  of  a  new  building  was  authorized  on  the  site 
immediately  east  of  the  Capitol.  This  building  was  completed 
in  February,  1897,  at  a  cost  of  $6,347,000,  on  land  costing 
$585,000.  The  books  were  moved  to  the  building  in  the  follow- 
ing summer,  with  the  exception  of  a  portion  of  the  Law  Library 
which  still  remains  at  the  Capitol. 

Before  the  new  building  was  occupied.  Congress  in  the 
Appropriation  Act  of  1897  provided  for  the  reorganization  of 
the  Library,  created  the  office  of  Register  of  Copyrights,  and 
increased  the  number  of  employees.  Dr.  Spofford,  to  whose 
unwearying  zeal  and  enthusiasm  the  growth  of  the  Library  was 
largely  due,  became  chief  assistant  librarian  in  1897  on  the 
appointment  of  John  Russell  Young  as  librarian.  In  1899 
Herbert  Putnam  was  called  from  the  Boston  Library  to  the  post 
made  vacant  by  Mr.  Young's  death. 

Since  entering  the  new  building^  the  Library  has  grown  re- 
markably in  size  and  in  service  rendered.  It  has  become  in 
fact,  if  not  in  name,  the  National  Library.  In  19 10  its  collec- 
tions numbered:  books,  1,793,158;  maps  and  charts,  118,165; 
music,  517,806;  prints,  photographs,  etc.,  320,251.  The  num- 
ber of  persons  employed  (including  those  in  the  copyright 
office  and  those  charged  with  the  care  of  the  building  and 
grounds)  is  484.  It  has  come  into  active  relations  with  the 
libraries  of  the  country,  and  while  rendering  greatly  increased 
service  to  Congress,  has  begun  a  career  of  service  to  the  whole 
nation. 

CONSTITUTION^ 

There  is  no  single  Act  of  Congress  setting  forth  the  consti- 
tution of  the  Library.  Sections  80-100  of  chap.  6  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  1873  and  the  Appropriation  Act  of  1897  are  the  most 

^  For  a  description  of  the  condition  of  the  Library  in  1900  cf.  Putnam, 
H.,  The  Library  of  Congress,  Atlantic  monthly,  vol.  85,  pp.  147-58.  Cf. 
also  Annual  report  of  the  librarian,  1901,  pp.  292-351. 

^Cf.  Annual  report  for  1901,  pp.   208-91. 


4  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

important  laws  relating  to  the  institution.  The  Library  is 
classed  by  law  as  a  branch  of  the  legislative  department  of  the 
government,  and  although  the  librarian  and  the  superintendent 
of  the  building  and  grounds  are  appointed  by  the  President, 
they  report  directly  to  Congress.  Appropriations  for  its  sup- 
port are  made  annually  by  Congress  in  the  legislative,  execu- 
tive, and  judicial  appropriations  bill.  The  librarian  and  the 
superintendent  each  submits  to  the  Treasury  estimates  of  his 
respective  needs,  and  appears  before  the  appropriations  com- 
mittee in  support  of  his  recommendations. 

The  total  appropriation  for  191 1  was  $627,245,  divided  as 
follows : 

Contingent  expenses $7,300.00 

Increase  of  library 

Books  ....  $100,000.00 
Lawbooks  .  .  .  3,000.00 
Periodicals   .     .      .  5,000.00 

108,000.00 

Salaries 454,445.00 

Fuel,  lights,  furniture,  etc.    .      .      .         57,500.00 

$627,245.00^ 

The  librarian  handles  no  moneys,  save  those  received  from 
the  sale  of  printed  cards.  All  disbursements  for  salaries, 
contingent  expenses,  and  purchases  are  made  on  his  approval 
by  the  superintendent  of  the  building  and  grounds,  who  is  the 
disbursing  officer  of  the  Library. 

The  building  is  open  from  9 :  GO  a.m.  until  10:00  p.m.  except 
on  Sundays  and  most  hohdays,  when  it  is  open  from  2 :  00  until 
10:00  p.m.  The  main  reading  room  and  the  periodical  read- 
ing room  are  open  during  these  hours,  and  the  other  reading 
rooms  and  offices  from  9:00  a.m.  until  4:30  p.m. 

^This  sum  is  exclusive  of  an  appropriation  of  $10,000  for  the  comple- 
tion of  the  book  stack  in  the  southeast  court,  and  an  annual  credit  of 
$202,000  at  the  Government  Printing  Office  for  printing  and  binding. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  5 

The  Library  is  absolutely  free  to  any  reader  over  sixteen 
years  old.  The  privilege  of  drawing  books  for  home  use  is 
confined  to  senators  and  representatives,  certain  high  officials 
of  the  government,  judges,  and  other  persons  designated  by 
statute.  The  librarian,  in  pursuance  of  his  authority  to  make 
rules  and  regulations,  occasionally  grants  this  privilege  to 
scholars  engaged  in  research.  The  government  bureaus  in 
Washington  draw  books  freely  for  official  use,  usually  through 
their  librarians.^ 

The  purpose  of  the  administration  is  the  freest  possible  use 
of  the  books  consistent  with  their  safety,  and  the  widest  possible 
use  consistent  with  the  convenience  of  Congress.  There  is 
no  limit  to  the  number  of  books  a  reader  may  draw  for  reference 
use,  and  he  has  direct  access  to  a  reference  collection  of  over 
15,000  volumes  in  the  main  reading  room.  If  his  studies 
require  that  he  have  access  to  the  shelves,  this  privilege  is 
granted  him,  and  if  he  needs  to  have  the  continuous  use  of  the 
same  books  day  after  day,  he  is  given  a  table  where  they  may 
be  reserved  for  him.  When  a  typewriting  machine  will  greatly 
facilitate  a  scholar's  labors,  a  desk  is  provided  in  a  room  where 
readers  will  not  be  disturbed  by  its  use.  The  Library  has 
no  force  of  copyists  or  photographers,  but  gives  to  those  desir- 
ing to  have  extracts  or  facsimiles  made  the  names  and  addresses 
of  persons  making  a  business  of  such  work. 

BUILDING 

The  plans  for  the  building,^  which  was  begun  in  1886  and 
completed  in  1897,  were  drawn  by  Messrs.  Smithmeyer  &  Pelz, 
but  the  building  was  actually  constructed  and  many  architec- 
tural details  worked  out  under  General  Thomas  L.  Casey,  chief 

^  Cf.  Annual  report,  1907,  pp.  70-78;  ibid.,  1908,  pp.  57-66. 

*  Cf.  Small,  Herbert,  Handbook  of  the  Library  of  Congress,  Boston, 
1909;  Green,  B.  R.,  The  new  building  for  the  Library  of  Congress, 
Library    journal,    vol.    21,    pp.    13-20;     Green,    B.    R.,    The    building 


6  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

of  engineers,  U.S.  army,  and  after  his  death  by  Bernard  R. 
Green,  the  present  superintendent.  The  exterior  is  of  grey 
granite,  and  the  interior  is  highly  decorated  with  marbles, 
sculpture,  and  paintings.  The  building  occupies  three  and  one- 
half  acres  of  land,  contains  7,500,000  cubic  feet  of  space,  and 
over  eight  acres  of  floor  space.  The  book  stacks  are  of  steel 
(Snead-Green  shelving),  and  the  whole  construction  is  fireproof. 
About  a  thousand  readers  can  be  accommodated  at  one  time  in 
the  various  reading  rooms  and  alcoves.  Owing  to  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  collections  a  book  stack  has  been  constructed 
(1909)  in  the  southeast  courtyard.  This  is  lighted  wholly 
by  electricity,  and  ventilated  by  forced  draught. 

COLLECTIONS 

The  main  collections  of  the  Library  are  supplemented  and 
strengthened  by  those  of  the  several  separate  departments, 
maps,  music,  prints,  law,  and  manuscripts.  The  Library  proper 
is  strongest  in  bibliography,  public  documents  (especially  those 
of  foreign  governments),  Americana,  economics,  poHtical  science, 
public  law  and  legislation,  genealogy,  and  newspapers.  Through 
the  Smithsonian  Institution  extensive  files  of  transactions  of 
foreign  learned  societies  are  received.  By  virtue  of  the  copy- 
right law  it  has  received  the  most  complete  collection  in  exist- 
ence of  the  products  of  the  American  press.     American  local 

for  the  Library  of  Congress,  Smithsonian  Institution,  Annual  report, 
1897,  pp.  625-33;  Bain,  G.  G.,  The  Congressional  Library  at  Washington, 
Amer.  architect  and  building  news,  vol.  48,  pp.  95-97;  Schuyler,  M.,  The 
new  Library  of  Congress,  Scribner's  magazine,  vol.  21,  pp.  709-27; 
Spofford,  A.  R.,  The  nation's  library-:  I,  The  new  building;  II,  Special 
features  of  the  Congressional  Librarv%  Century,  v^ol.  31,  pp.  682-94; 
Hempstead,  E.  A.,  The  new  Congressional  Library,  Chautauquan,  vol. 
23,  pp.  695-705;  Maury,  N.  B.,  The  new  Congressional  Library,  Cos- 
mopolitan, vol.  23,  pp.  10-20;  The  National  Library,  Munsey's  mag., 
vol.  18,  pp.  707-13;  Cofl&n,  W.  A.,  The  decorations  in  the  new  Con- 
gressional Library,  Century,  vol.  31,  pp.  694-711. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  7 

history  and  biography  are  represented  with  unusual  fulness. 
The  Yudin  Collection  of  some  80,000  volumes  of  Russian  works, 
purchased  in  1907,  is  particularly  valuable  for  the  history  of 
Russia  and  Siberia.  A  collection  of  Japanese  books  (9,000 
volumes)  was  bought  in  1907,  and  in  1908  the  Huitfeldt-Kaas 
collection  of  Scandinavian  literature  of  about  5,000  volumes. 
Orientalia  is  further  represented  by  the  Weber  library  of  San- 
skrit literature  (3,018  volumes,  1,002  pamphlets).  The  Library 
has  bought  recently  large  numbers  of  the  monumenta  of  Euro- 
pean history,  and  is  rapidly  growing  in  the  sciences,  pure  and 
applied. 

ADMINISTRATION  (9  persons) 

The  administrative  officers  of  the  Library  are  the  librarian, 
chief  assistant  librarian,  chief  clerk,  and  secretary.  The 
superintendent  of  the  building  and  grounds  with  his  aids 
has  entire  charge  of  the  maintenance  of  the  building,  and 
makes  all  disbursements  for  the  Library. 

The  duties  of  the  librarian,  chief  assistant  librarian,  and 
secretary  are  those  customary  in  libraries,  save  that  the  libra- 
rian is  not  under  the  direction  of  a  board  of  trustees.  The 
functions  of  the  chief  clerk  are  those  of  administrative  assist- 
ant. He  is  charged  with  the  discipline  of  the  force,  and  in  his 
office  are  kept  the  records  of  the  service  and  of  the  expenditures 
under  the  appropriations  for  the  Library  and  the  allotment  for 
printing  and  binding. 

THE   DIVISIONS 

The  Library  force  is  organized  into  ^'divisions,"  each  with 
a  chief  and  assistants;  some  of  the  divisions,  including  the  Copy- 
right Office,  are  further  divided  into  sections. 

The  Mail  and  Delivery  Division  (5  persons)  handles  all 
materials  arriving  at  or  dispatched  from  the  library  building, 
including  all  mail  matter  and  all  books  delivered  for  outside 
use.     The  yearly  mail  received  exceeds  225,000  items,  including 


8  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

articles  received  for  copyright,  but  not  including  newspapers  and 
periodicals. 

The  Order  Division  (13  persons),  organized  in  1900,  attends 
to  all  business  connected  with  the  purchase  of  books,  and 
handles  in  the  first  instance  all  material  destined  for  the  increase 
of  the  Library  proper,  including  gifts,  deposits,  exchanges, 
and  transfers. 

No  accession  books  are  kept,  as  the  files  of  vouchers  contain 
all  the  information  generally  recorded  in  formal  accession 
records.  Every  item  approved  for  purchase  is  entered  on  a 
card,  and  from  these  cards  the  orders,  in  the  form  of  lists,  are 
prepared  for  the  dealer.  The  result  is  a  card  catalog  of  acces- 
sions. All  bills  are  paid  by  check  on  the  treasury  of  the 
United  States  after  the  most  careful  auditing  and  final  approval 
by  the  librarian.  A  card-ledger  system  is  kept  which  shows  at 
any  moment  the  condition  of  each  appropriation,  the  outstand- 
ing orders,  bills  paid,  and  balances  available. 

Printing  Office  and  Bindery. — These  are  branches  of  the 
Government  Printing  Ofiice,  which  supphes  the  equipment  and 
details  the  workmen.  The  work  done  is  solely  for  the  Library, 
and  is  charged  to  the  "allotment"  of  the  Library  for  binding 
and  printing.  The  allotment  for  191 1  was  $202,000.  The 
printing  office  prints  the  catalog  cards,  and  all  needed  forms  and 
circulars.^  Five  linotype  machines  are  kept  constantly  busy  at 
the  card  work. 

The  binding  for  the  Library  is  mainly  done  in  the  building. 
A  special  Binding  Division  (3  persons)  has  charge  of  forward- 
ing material  in  proper  shape,  keeping  accounts  with  the  bindery, 
etc. 

The  Catalog  Division  (91  persons)  deals  with  printed  books 
and  pamphlets  only,  and  includes  the  work  of  classification, 
shelf-Hsting,   labeling,   preparation  of  copy  of  catalog  cards 

^  The  publications  of  the  Library  in  book  form  are  printed  at  the 
Government  Printing  Office,  not  at  the  Library  Branch. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  9 

for  the  printer,  proofreading,  and  filing  cards  in  the  various 
catalogs. 

The  Catalog  Division  not  only  catalogs  and  classifies  the 
current  accessions  (over  100,000  volumes  annually),  but  has 
been  engaged  since  1899  in  reclassifying  and  recataloging  the 
entire  collection.  The  greater  part  of  the  Library  has  now 
(191 1)  been  reclassified,  and  new  catalog  entries  have  been  made 
for  over  three-fourths  of  the  entire  collection.  When  this  work 
was  begun  in  1899  there  were  approximately  700,000  volumes, 
exclusive  of  duplicates,  to  be  handled.  Moreover,  the  catalog 
being  in  the  form  of  printed  cards,  a  considerable  force  other- 
wise available  for  cataloging  was  necessarily  devoted  to  proof- 
reading. Not  only  has  the  enormous  task  been  almost  com- 
pleted in  a  decade,  but  its  results  from  day  to  day  in  the  cards 
printed  have  been  made  available  to  the  libraries  of  the  whole 
country,  assisting  them  to  an  extraordinary  degree  in  the 
preparation  of  their  catalogs  and  relieving  them  of  a  very  con- 
siderable expense. 

The  system  of  classification  adopted  has  been  devised  from  a 
comparison  of  existing  schemes,  and  a  consideration  of  the 
particular  conditions  in  this  Library.  The  schedules  are  still 
somewhat  subject  to  change,  and  therefore  no  complete  scheme 
has  been  printed.  The  outlines  for  most  of  the  classes  have 
been  issued  in  pamphlet  form. 

The  main  catalog^  of  books  and  pamphlets  is  in  the  form  of 
printed  cards,  arranged  in  the  "dictionary"  order,  i.e.,  author, 
title,  and  subject  entries  in  one  alphabet.  The  rules  followed 
are  those  of  the  American  and  British  Library  Associations. 
There  are  also  special  catalogs  in  book  form  for  many  of  the 
special  collections,  as  prints,  maps,  manuscripts,  etc.  These 
are  noted  under  the  various  divisions. 

^  For  the  earlier  catalogs  in  book  form  see  Ford,  Paul  Leicester,  A 
list  of  the  Library  of  Congress  catalogs,  Library  journal,  vol.  15,  pp. 
326-27.  Also,  Annual  report  of  the  librarian,  1901,  Appendix  II,  pp. 
362-67. 


10  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

The  Card-Distribution  Section  (27  persons),  established  in 
1 901,  handles  the  accumulated  stock  of  printed  catalog  cards 
and  their  distribution  and  sale.^ 

The  stock  now  (191 1)  numbers  over  30,000,000  cards.  These 
are  stored  by  serial  number  in  steel  cases.  Complete  sets  of 
one  copy  of  each  card  pubHshed  are  on  deposit  in  the  principal 
library  centers  of  the  country,  enabling  inquirers  in  those  places 
to  ascertain  whether  a  book  is  in  the  Library  of  Congress,  and 
also  facilitating  greatly  the  ordering  of  printed  cards.  The 
cards  are  sold  under  the  law  governing  the  sale  of  public  docu- 
ments at  the  actual  cost  of  manufacture  plus  10  per  cent — 
the  maximum  price  being  two  cents  per  card,  and  one-half  cent 
for  each  additional  copy.  In  1910  more  than  1300  libraries 
and  individuals  purchased  cards  regularly. 

The  Bibliography  Division  (7  persons)  deals  with  inquiries 
involving  research  too  elaborate  for  the  attendants  in  the  read- 
ing room,  or  in  form  inconvenient  for  them  to  handle  expedi- 
tiously; compiles  Hsts  of  references  on  topics  of  current  interest, 
particularly  those  pending  in  Congress.  The  division  furnishes 
references  in  the  case  of  numerous  inquiries  received  by  mail,  and 
is  also  frequently  called  into  service  by  members  of  Congress. 

Reading  Rooms  (58  persons).  The  main  reading  room  is  in 
the  center  of  the  building.  It  has  desks  for  200  readers  and 
sixty  tables  in  the  alcoves  and  galleries  which  are  assigned  to 
scholars  making  extended  investigations.  The  issue  desk  is 
in  the  center.  It  is  connected  with  the  stacks,  the  Capitol, 
Smithsonian  Division,  and  Librarian's  Office  by  pneumatic 
tubes.  Electric  book  carriers  connect  the  desk  with  the  north 
and  south  stacks,  and  with  the  Capitol.  Books  can  ordinarily 
be  delivered  to  readers  in  about  five  minutes  after  a  request  is 
handed  in. 

The    alcoves    surrounding    the    reading    room    contain    a 

^  Cf .  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  Handbook  of  Card  Distribution.  Wash- 
ington, Government  Printing  Ofl&ce,  1909,  and  subsequent  Bulletins. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  ii 

reference  collection  of  some  15,000  volumes,  to  which  access  is 
entirely  free.  The  card  catalogs  of  the  Library  are  on  the 
floor  of  the  reading  room. 

In  addition  to  the  main  reading  room  there  are  separate 
reading  rooms  for  senators  and  representatives;  a  station  is 
maintained  at  the  Capitol  for  the  receipt  and  delivery  of  books 
(an  electric  carrier  runs  through  a  tunnel  over  1,200  feet  long 
connecting  the  station  with  the  Library — the  passage  takes 
three  minutes).  There  are  also  in  their  respective  divisions 
reading  rooms  for  periodicals  and  newspapers,  fine  arts,  maps, 
and  music. 

Periodicals  Division  (12  persons),  organized  in  1901,  handles 
all  periodicals  as  received,  and  prepares  the  completed  volumes 
for  binding.  The  total  number  of  periodicals  received  is  in 
excess  of  13,000.  Over  1,000  newspapers  are  currently  received, 
including  about  275  foreign  newspapers;  of  these  375  are  bound 
and  shelved.  Half  the  space  in  the  new  stack  in  the  southeast 
court  is  fitted  up  with  shelving  designed  especially  for  news- 
papers. The  files  of  American  newspapers  are  very  extensive,^ 
while  the  collection  of  newspapers  of  the  eighteenth  century  is 
perhaps  the  largest  in  America. 

The  reading  room  for  periodicals  occupies  the  south  side 
of  the  building  on  the  main  floor.  It  has  seats  for  250  readers, 
and  400  newspapers  and  3,500  magazines  are  kept  in  this  room. 

Documents  Division  (5  persons),  organized  in  1901.  The 
function  of  this  division  is  to  acquire,  arrange,  and  make  avail- 
able for  use  the  publications  of  governments,  national,  local, 
and  municipal,  and  of  quasi-pubUc  bodies,  such  as  commercial 
organizations,  international  congresses,  and  the  like.  This 
division  has  charge  of  the  exchange  of  pubHcations  of  the  federal 
government  for  those  of  other  nations.  The  average  annual 
receipt  of  these  foreign  documents  is  about  7,500  volumes  and 

^  Cf.  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  Check-list  of  American  newspapers, 
1901.     (New  edition  in  preparation.) 


12  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

pamphlets.  The  average  annual  accessions  of  all  documents 
total  over  40,000. 

The  Division  of  Manuscripts  (4  persons),  established  1897, 
has  the  custody  of  manuscript  material  not  classified  as  maps, 
music,  or  prints.  There  is  a  special  reading  room  for  the  con- 
sultation of  manuscripts,  in  which  is  placed  the  card  index  to 
the  collection.  The  collection  consists  almost  wholly  of  the 
papers  of  American  public  men  and  of  the  federal  government, 
and  is  by  far  the  largest  in  America.  It  is  constantly  growing 
by  gift  and  purchase.  Calendars  have  been  published  of  several 
of  the  groups  of  papers,^  and  the  Journal  of  the  Continental 
Congress  is  being  published  by  the  Library.  The  various  depart- 
ments of  the  government  are  authorized  to  turn  over  to  the 
Library  material  of  historical  importance  as  it  ceases  to  be 
needed  in  the  departments.  Much  extremely  valuable  material 
has  been  received  in  pursuance  of  this  law. 

Manuscripts  are  repaired  (frequently  a  task  of  great  diffi- 
culty), mounted,  and  bound  into  volumes.  The  repairers  and 
mounters  handle  about  8,500  pieces  annually.  Index  cards  are 
written  for  all  important  items  in  each  manuscript. 

Manuscripts  are  consulted  by  readers  only  under  the 
supervision  of  attendants.  The  privilege  of  making  extracts 
and  photographs  is  granted  on  permit  from  the  librarian. 

Division  of  Maps  and  Charts  (6  persons),  organized  in  1897. 
All  maps,  atlases,  and  many  works  on  cartography  are  in  the 
custody  of  this  division  (118,165  pieces,  1910).  Maps  are 
kept  flat  in  steel  cases,  each  map  in  a  separate  manila  paper 
folder.     The  collection  is  richest  in  maps  of  North  America,^ 

^The  Franklin  papers  (1905);  John  Paul  Jones  manuscripts  (1903); 
Papers  of  James  Monroe  (1904);  Naval  records  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion (1906);  Vernon- Wager  manuscripts  (1904);  Washington  aids  (1906); 
Washington  correspondence  (1906);  Washington  manuscripts  (1901). 

^  Cf.  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  A  list  of  maps  of  America  in  the  Library 
of  Congress  ....  by  P.  Lee  Phillips.  Washington,  Gov.  print,  office, 
1901. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  13 

and  includes  a  number  of  manuscript  maps.  The  collection  of 
atlases  is  especially  noteworthy/  comprising  over  ij^ooo  vol- 
umes, including  most  of  the  early  printed  atlases. 

The  Division  of  Music^  (6  persons),  organized  1897,  has  the 
custody  of  the  collection  of  music  (both  scores  and  works  of 
music),  numbering  over  517,000  items  in  1910,  with  yearly 
accessions  of  more  than  25,000.  The  greater  part  of  the  collec- 
tion has  been  acquired  by  copyright,  but  of  late  extensive  pur- 
chases have  been  made  in  addition.  The  Library  now  owns 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  collections  of  music  in  the  world, 
and  by  far  the  largest  in  America.^ 

Division  of  Prints  (5  persons),  organized  in  1897.  The 
collection  of  prints  of  all  sorts  and  the  books  and  periodicals 
devoted  to  the  fine  arts  are  in  the  charge  of  this  division.  In 
1910  the  collection  numbered  320,251  pieces,  including  the 
Garrett  collection  of  19,113  and  the  Bradley  collection  of  1,980 
engravings  deposited  with  the  Library.  Card  catalogs  of  all 
prints  are  made  and  filed  in  the  division.  A  catalog  of  the 
Hubbard  collection  of  prints  was  issued  in  1905. 

Law  Library  (6  persons);  138,059  volumes  in  1910.  Part 
of  the  Law  Library  (American  and  EngHsh  common  law, 
reports  and  legal  periodicals)  is  kept  at  the  Capitol,  where  it 
occupies  rooms  on  the  ground  floor.  In  the  library  proper  are 
placed  works  on  foreign  law,  international  law,  and  nearly 
complete  dupUcate  sets  of  American  reports,  as  well  as  a  selec- 
tion of  treatises. 

Under   the    direction   of   the  law   librarian   acting   under 

^  Cf.  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  A  list  of  geographical  adases  in  the 
Library  of  Congress,  compiled  under  the  direction  of  P.  Lee  Phillips. 
2  V.     Washington,  Gov.  print,  office,  1909. 

'  Sonneck,  O.  G.  S.  The  Music  Division  of  the  Library  of  Congress 
in  the  proceedings  of  the  Music  Teachers'  National  Association,  1908. 

3  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  Dramatic  music:  catalogue  of  full  scores. 
Compiled  by  O.  G.  S.  Sonneck.    Washington,  Gov.  print,  office,  1908. 


14  MANUAL  OF  LIBRARY  ECONOMY 

special  authorization  from  Congress,  an  index  to  the  Federal 
Statutes  from  1873  to  1908  was  compiled  and  published  in 
1908-11.^ 

Copyright  Office  (84  persons),  organized  in  its  present  form 
in  1897.  It  has  the  entire  '^ copyright  business"  in  its  charge. 
The  ofl&ce  is  under  the  register  of  copyrights,  who  "acts 
under  the  direction  and  supervision  of  the  Hbrarian  of 
Congress."  It  receives  and  records  all  material  offered  for 
copyright  entry,  turning  over  to  the  Library  such  items  as  are 
desired.  Fees  received  from  owners  of  copyrights  are  turned 
into  the  U.S.  Treasury.  These  amounted  to  $104,644.95  in 
1910,  exceeding  the  appropriation  for  the  office  by  $15,685.00. 
The  total  number  of  articles  deposited  was  219,024  in  1910. 
The  work  of  the  office  in  acknowledging  entries  and  sending 
certificates  of  copyright  is  kept  strictly  up  to  date.  The  office 
publishes  in  weekly  a,xid  monthly  issues  a  Catalogue  of  Copy- 
right Entries,  recording  each  item  copyrighted,  and  forming 
the  most  complete  record  made  of  the  product  of  the  press  of 
America. 

The  Library  of  Congress  and  Other  Libraries. — The  resources 
of  the  Library  of  Congress  have  been  put  at  the  disposal  of 
other  libraries,  (i)  by  the  sale  and  deposit  of  printed  catalog 
cards;  (2)  inter-library  loans;  (3)  distribution  and  sale  of  its 
publications,  including  bibliographies  of  special  topics;  (4) 
co-operation  in  pubHshing.  The  sale  of  printed  cards  has  been 
mentioned  above.^  The  inter-library  loan  is  a  matter  of 
comparatively  recent  development.  It  acts  on  the  principle 
that  the  duty  of  the  National  Library  is  to  aid  the  unusual  need 
with  the  unusual  book.     Books  are  lent  to  other  libraries  for 

'An  Index  analysis  of  the  Federal  Statutes  ....  by  G.  W.  Scott 
and  M.  G.  Beaman.  Prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Librarian  of 
Congress.  2  vols.  Washington,  Gov.  print,  office,  1908-11.  {Not  dis- 
tributed by  the  Library,  but  sold  only  by  the  Superintendent  of  Documents.) 

'  P.  10. 


LIBRARY  OF *CONGkE§S'  '* '  '*  *  •*''*         15 

the  use  of  investigators  engaged  in  research  expected  to  enlarge 
the  boundaries  of  knowledge.  The  material  lent  cannot  include, 
therefore,  books  that  should  be  in  a  local  library,  or  that  can 
be  borrowed  from  a  library  (such  as  a  state  library)  having  a 
particular  duty  to  the  community  from  which  the  appUcation 
comes;  nor  books  that  are  inexpensive  and  can  easily  be  pro- 
cured; nor  books  for  the  general  reader,  mere  textbooks,  or 
popular  manuals;  nor  books  where  the  purpose  is  ordinary 
student  or  thesis  work,  or  for  mere  self-instruction.  Nor 
can  it  include  material  which  is  in  constant  use  at  Washington, 
or  whose  loan  would  be  an  inconvenience  to  Congress,  or  to  the 
executive  departments  of  the  government,  or  to  reference  readers 
in  the  Library  of  Congress. 

Genealogies  and  local  histories  are  not  as  a  rule  available 
for  loan,  nor  are  newspapers,  the  latter  forming  part  of  a  con- 
secutive historical  record  which  the  Library  of  Congress  is 
expected  to  retain  and  preserve;  and  only  for  serious  research 
can  the  privilege  be  extended  to  include  volumes  of  periodicals. 

The  expense  of  transportation  must  be  borne  by  the  borrow- 
ing library. 

The  Publications'^  of  the  Library  are  distributed  by  exchange 
with  other  institutions,  and  by  sale  through  the  office  of  the 
Superintendent  of  Documents  of  the  Government  Printing 
Office.     A  very  limited  number  is  distributed  gratis. 

The  Library  has  co-operated  with  the  American  Library 
Association  in  editing  and  publishing  the  "A.  L.  A.  Catalog" 
of  1904  and  the  "A.  L.  A.  Portrait  Index,"  and  with  the  libraries 
of  the  District  of  Columbia  in  the  "Union  List  of  Periodicals, 
Transactions,  and  AlUed  Publications,"  issued  in  1901. 

^  U.S.  Library  of  Congress,  Publications  issued  since  1897.  January 
1911. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE 

AMERICAN  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 

PUBLISHING  BOARD 

78  E.  Washington  St.,  Chicago,  III. 


Guide  to  reference  books.    Edited  by  Alice  B.  Kroeger.   Revised  and 

enlarged  edition.    Cloth,  SL50  (i30stage,  11  cents). 
Literature  of  American  history.     Edited  by  J.  N.  Lamed.     Cloth, 

S6  (postage,  30  cents);  sheep,  $7.50;  ^  mor.,  $9. 
Hints  to  Small  Libraries.    By  Mary  W.  Plummer.    Cloth,  75  cents. 
A.  L.  A.  Booklist.  ^Subject  index,  1905-Jiine,  1910  (v.  1-6).   Paper, 

25  cents. 
Selected  list  of  music  and  books  about  music  for  public  libraries. 

By  Louisa  M.  Hooper.    Paper,  25  cents. 

LISTS   OF   FOREIGN   BOOKS 
Selected  list  of  Hungarian  books.     Paper,  15  cents. 
Selected  list  of  German  books.    Paper,  50  cents. 
List  of  French  books.    Paper,  25  cents. 
List  of  Norwegian  and  Danish  books.     Paper,  25  cents. 
French  fiction.    Paper,  5  cents. 
List  of  Swedish  books.    Paper,  25  cents. 

LIBRARY   HANDBOOKS 

Intended  to  help  the  librarians  of  small  libraries  in  the  various 
details  of  library  work. 

1.  Essentials  in  library  administration.     By  Miys  L.  E.  Stearns. 

Paper,  15  cents. 

2.  Cataloging  for  small  libraries.     By  Theresa  Hitchlcr.     Paper, 

15  cents. 

3.  Management  of  traveling  libraries.    By  Edna  D.  Bullock.    Paper, 

15  cents. 

4.  Aids  in  book  selection.      By  Alice  B.  Kroeger.      Paper,  15  cents. 

5.  Binding  for  small  libraries.     Paper,  15  cents.    Suggestions  pre- 

pared by  the  A.  L.  A.  committee  on  bookbinding. 

6.  Mending  and  repair  of  books.    By  Margaret  W.  Brown.     Paper, 

15  cents. 

7.  U.S.  Government  documents  in  small  libraries.    By  J.  I.  Wyer,  Jr. 

Paper,  15  cents. 


;.  -T  :f  <v:  j^!^^g^^.-1t^  , 

14  DAY  USE      -1^^ 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED    i 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subjert  to  immediate  recall. 

MAY  4     1964 

DEC  1 3  1966 

FEE  2  5  1968 

RECEIVED 

DEC  14 '66 -9  AM 

LOAN  DEPT. 

MAR     5 1969 

DEC  19  1970 

i 

Jl.)Nl7  19/2 

DEC  1,9  1975 

%!}7uw]%^i             U'^'°"il(0»-°'^ 

